Jurgen Klopp has praised the significance of recent goals from Roberto Firmino, and hailed the Brazilian’s importance for the way Liverpool want to play after replacing Darwin Nunez.
Jurgen Klopp feels Roberto Firmino finding form at ‘perfect’ time for Liverpool
Roberto Firmino is hitting form at the ‘perfect’ time for Jurgen Klopp, having scored three goals and laid on three assists over Liverpool’s last two games. The Reds boss also stands by his belief that the 30-year-old impressed at Manchester United, via the Liverpool Echo.
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Expectations were rife that Firmino would regress into a bit-part role at Anfield this season after the Reds bought Darwin Nunez. The Merseysiders paid Benfica an initial £64m to sign the Uruguay international, rising to a possible £85m should he meet all of the add-on fees.
Yet Klopp has needed to rely on Firmino to lead the attack after Nunez drew a straight red card at home to Crystal Palace on matchday two. He left referee Paul Tierney without any choice but to send the 23-year-old off for headbutting Eagles defender Joachim Andersen.
Firmino’s first job with Nunez unavailable was to cause trouble at Old Trafford, but a deeper position through the first-half restricted his impact. Manchester United continued to limit the 55-cap international’s impact after the break, too, but not enough to sway Klopp’s opinion.
A first home start of the season then followed for Firmino against AFC Bournemouth, as he hit home twice and laid on three assists. Their £29m transfer from TSG Hoffenheim in 2015 helped Luis Diaz break the deadlock then found Harvey Elliott and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Firmino’s first goal of the season then followed to cap a stunning first half an hour against the Cherries, before scoring again on the hour. And his form followed on Wednesday when Newcastle United visited Merseyside, pulling Liverpool level during a resolute night’s work.
Roberto Firmino moved onto 100 Reds goals against AFC Bournemouth
Firmino moved onto 100 Liverpool goals with his second strike against Bournemouth, with 101 in 332 outings now. He has also laid on 77 assists in all competitions, and the £180k-a-week star may make his next Reds outing in the Merseyside derby at Everton on Saturday.
Klopp believes Firmino has found his form at the perfect time for Liverpool, with his recent performances giving the German much delight, whilst showing why he remains important.
“The timing was perfect,” Klopp said of Firmino’s recent strikes. “I liked a lot of the United game – even if not a lot of people agreed with me on that. Then obviously Bournemouth and now. Really important for the way we play.
“He has reached 100 goals, which is pretty special. We got him a shirt with 100 on it. The applause for him was almost as loud as the goal we scored against Newcastle for 2-1.”
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